Runo 198 SV is an early-maturing corn hybrid with FAO 190, developed by the Institute of Steppe Agriculture of NAAN of Ukraine and the seed company "Maïs". The hybrid was included in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine since 2005 and is intended for cultivation in the Polesie, Forest-Steppe, and Steppe zones. Its main use is grain production. The plant is relatively medium-height, 210-220 cm tall, non-branching, which simplifies care and harvest. The ear is cylindrical, 18-20 cm long, with 16-18 rows of kernels and 30-33 kernels per row, attached at a height of 70-80 cm. The stem is red, the grain is yellow, cream-colored with tooth-like kernels, with a 1000-kernel weight of 270-280 g.
The hybrid is characterized by high resistance to adverse factors: resistance to lodging is rated at 9 points, to cold and drought — 8 points each, to major diseases — 9 points, to pest damage — 8 points. Pre-harvest plant density varies depending on the cultivation zone: in Polesie — 80-90 thousand plants/ha, in Forest-Steppe — 75-80 thousand plants/ha, in Steppe — 50-55 thousand plants/ha. The potential grain yield reaches 10.5–11 t/ha. The hybrid responds well to improved growing conditions and exhibits high water-excreting capacity of the grain.
Special attention is paid to the process of reducing grain moisture during maturation, which depends on multiple factors, including morphological and biochemical properties of the grain and ear, as well as biological characteristics of the hybrid. Grain moisture at harvest is an important indicator for breeding and technological research, confirming the high adaptability and quality of the Runo 198 SV hybrid. Due to its characteristics, this hybrid is widely used in the Forest-Steppe and Polesie regions of Ukraine, as well as in the Steppe region as a preceding crop for winter crops and for late sowing.
